What is Marcopoloni?

Our goal is to bring people like you, who cherish and appreciate fine artistry, closer to the artisans who create them. Everything we offer is handmade by carefully-selected artisans who pour their love and pride into each piece of work.

Much as Marco Polo brought the Western world in contact with the treasures of the Far East in the late 13th century, Marcopoloni strives to put you in touch with beautiful handmade goods from around the world!

Leather Doctor Bags … Examined

We just announced the arrival of the new Campomaggi doctor bag, which we called the Bellini (after the 17th century physician from Florence). Doctor bags were traditionally used by physicians for carrying their tools of the trade as they visited patients in their homes, or while traveling. Of course, they were originally made of leather – as most still are today. In my mind, I had pictured something like this:

This is what I was talking about. A real, leather doctor's bag.

This one’s actually a prop that you can rent from a company called All About Props. It looks like something you’d see being used by an old, white-haired doctor with spectacles in a black and white film.

As I was researching leather doctor bags, however, I noticed that the term “doctor bag” is being used quite liberally these days. Haute designers such as Prada and Versace have designed handbags for women that really have nothing to do with the traditional doctor bags, and are calling them doctor bags. I suppose that has the benefit of sounding sophisticated, if more than a bit misleading.

Doctor bags by Prada. What would you think if your doc showed up with a bag like this?

Versace. Yes, it is a bag and does have handles. I guess that qualifies it as a doctor bag.

Well, after sifting through hundreds of so-called doctor bags, I came to the realization that if I were looking for a real, vintage-looking, awe-inspiring doctor bag, the pickings are slim to none.

Until now.

Enter the doctor bag by Campomaggi – I would love to talk about how beautiful it is, but instead I think I will just let the bag speak for itself. And it will.